Was talking to a fella from Colorado F&W last week about bear hunting with a muzzleloader so he asked what kind of rifle I intended to use. I told him my Turvey ESR in .58. Of course I had to make it sound like a real cannon and he quietly said he knew all about.58’s and their recoil. Said he had a Navy Arms Hawken just like Val Forgett took to Africa and used to kill the Big Five. Said the load Val Forgett used was 180 grs of fffg (3fg!) under a 610 gr Minie ball! My new friend said he’d tried that but it was a bit sporty in a gun with a 26” barrel, so he’d settled on a load of 150 grs of 2fg under a mere 505 gr Minie ball. Said he’d shot a running cow elk with that load and while he couldn’t see the impact his hunting partner said the cow was pushed sideways. Said both front shoulders were ruined.
